Mr. Rajnikant Shroff

Mr. Rajnikant Shroff (alias Mr. Rajju Shroff) was born in a family of entrepreneurs in a small town in Kutch, India. Passionate about chemistry and chemicals right from the beginning.  Mr. Rajnikant Shroff, the Ex-CMD of UPL, pioneered Red Phosphorus manufacturing in 1969, giving an impetus to the indigenous chemical industry.

A committed visionary

Eager to do something different, Mr. Rajju Shroff has always taken the road less travelled. A graduate of Chemistry from the Bombay University, he established a novel process of manufacturing mercury salts in a plant in the U.K. and was paid royalty for it by the British company; a big achievement for any Indian way back in 1957. Soon after, he mastered red phosphorous and quickly moved on to the production of other chemicals like Aluminium Phosphide (fumigant) and Zinc Phosphide (rodenticide) for agriculture. In the 1980s, UPL started launching an avalanche of crop protection products and is now one of the leading total crop solutions providers in the world.

Motivated to make a real difference

He believes that the prosperity of his companies must be shared with not just the stakeholders but society at large as well. His wholehearted support encourages one and all at UPL and UPL Group & Associate Companies to contribute to various social activities and actively work towards betterment of the people.

Apart from his core Agrochemical business, he initiated, nurtured, and has grown many diverse business enterprises that are shaped into different group companies of UPL Ltd. Uniphos Envirotronic Pvt. Ltd, is one such far-sighted initiative that he took more than two decades ago when environmental concerns were coming to the forefront. He was quick to see the opportunity for establishing an instrument industry for the Indian Chemical Industry for their process and environmental monitoring applications.

Widely acclaimed as a business leader of the chemical industry, he was the founder President of the Vapi Industrial Association (VIA) for many years during its formative years. He is also associated with a large number of industrial development organizations in various capacities.

On the social front, he was actively involved in building many infrastructural facilities like hospitals, schools, and colleges in the industrial town of Vapi and other places. GIDC Rajju Shroff Rofel Institute of Management Studies, Rajju Shroff BBA College, Sandra Shroff Nursing College, UPL University of Sustainable Technologyare some of them to name.

Admired by the world

His dedication to his company and his causes is unwavering. His many awards are a mere testimony of his legend.

Some of them are:

• On the Eve of the 72nd Republic Day, was conferred one of India’s highest civilian awards – Padma Bhushan, for his contribution to the field of trade and industry 2021.
• Life Time Recognition Award in the Field of Chemicals & Petrochemicals from Ministry of Chemical & Fertilisers.
• Was honoured with the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle in 2018.
• Was bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award in the year 2015 by AGROW.
• Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (manufacturing) in 2013.
• Indian Chemical Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award for the entrepreneur in 2010.